University at Albany- SUNY vs. Syracuse

Deciding between University at Albany and Syracuse University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University at Albany
Syracuse University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • University at Albany- SUNY Albany, NY
  • Syracuse Syracuse, NY
  • Setting
  • University at Albany- SUNY Small City
  • Syracuse Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • University at Albany- SUNY 17,560
  • Syracuse 22,589
  • Type
  • University at Albany- SUNY Public 4 Year
  • Syracuse Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • University at Albany- SUNY #223
  • Syracuse #158
  • Religious Affiliation
  • University at Albany- SUNY -
  • Syracuse -
  • Status
  • University at Albany- SUNY Non-profit
  • Syracuse Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • University at Albany- SUNY
  • Syracuse

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • University at Albany- SUNY $10,866
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • University at Albany- SUNY $31,256
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Room & Board
  • University at Albany- SUNY $16,423
  • Syracuse $19,188
  • Average Net Price
  • University at Albany- SUNY $17,949
  • Syracuse $48,215
  • Average Grant Aid
  • University at Albany- SUNY $11,210
  • Syracuse $36,417
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • University at Albany- SUNY 96%
  • Syracuse 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • University at Albany- SUNY 32,442
  • Syracuse 44,480
  • Admitted
  • University at Albany- SUNY 22,416
  • Syracuse 20,427
  • Acceptance Rate
  • University at Albany- SUNY 69.1%
  • Syracuse 45.9%
  • Enrolled
  • University at Albany- SUNY 12.6%
  • Syracuse 18.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • University at Albany- SUNY 1220
  • Syracuse 1360
  • Typical ACT score
  • University at Albany- SUNY 26
  • Syracuse 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • University at Albany- SUNY 3.3
  • Syracuse 3.69
  • Typical High School Grades
  • University at Albany- SUNY B+
  • Syracuse A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • University at Albany- SUNY Difficult
  • Syracuse Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • University at Albany- SUNY Low
  • Syracuse Low
  • ACT Range
  • University at Albany- SUNY 22/31
  • Syracuse 29/32
  • SAT Range
  • University at Albany- SUNY 1120/1320
  • Syracuse 1270/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • University at Albany- SUNY Test optional
  • Syracuse Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • University at Albany- SUNY Feb 1, 2027
  • Syracuse Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • University at Albany- SUNY 16:1
  • Syracuse 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • University at Albany- SUNY
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • English and Literature (14%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Biology (9%)
  • Syracuse
    • Business (18%)
    • Communication (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • University at Albany- SUNY 64%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • University at Albany- SUNY $55,800
  • Syracuse $65,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • University at Albany- SUNY 70%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • University at Albany- SUNY $21,065
  • Syracuse $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • University at Albany- SUNY $217
  • Syracuse $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • University at Albany- SUNY 44%
  • Syracuse 44%
  • % Women
  • University at Albany- SUNY 56%
  • Syracuse 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • University at Albany- SUNY High
  • Syracuse High
  • HBCU
  • University at Albany- SUNY No
  • Syracuse No
  • % White
  • University at Albany- SUNY 49%
  • Syracuse 55%
  • % Asian
  • University at Albany- SUNY 8%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Black
  • University at Albany- SUNY 16%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • University at Albany- SUNY 15%
  • Syracuse 11%
  • % Native American
  • University at Albany- SUNY 0%
  • Syracuse 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • University at Albany- SUNY 0%
  • Syracuse 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • University at Albany- SUNY 3%
  • Syracuse 3%
  • % International
  • University at Albany- SUNY 6%
  • Syracuse 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • University at Albany- SUNY 2%
  • Syracuse 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • University at Albany- SUNY 91%
  • Syracuse 31%
  • % Out-of-State
  • University at Albany- SUNY 5%
  • Syracuse 63%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • University at Albany- SUNY Yes
  • Syracuse Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • University at Albany- SUNY No
  • Syracuse No
  • Meal Plan
  • University at Albany- SUNY Yes
  • Syracuse Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • University at Albany- SUNY No
  • Syracuse Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • University at Albany- SUNY Yes
  • Syracuse Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare University at Albany in Albany, NY with Syracuse University in Syracuse, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Syracuse University is larger than University at Albany- SUNY based on total student enrollment (22,589 students vs. 17,560 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University at Albany is located in Albany, NY (Small City setting); Syracuse University is in Syracuse, NY (Midsize City setting).
  • University at Albany is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Syracuse University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University at Albany 16:1; Syracuse University 15:1.

University at Albany- SUNY vs. Syracuse Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University at Albany- SUNY or Syracuse? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University at Albany than Syracuse ($17,949 vs. $48,215).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University at Albany are 14.4% lower than at Syracuse University ($16,423 vs. $19,188).
  • Syracuse University is 503.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than University at Albany- SUNY (about $54,662 more per year; $65,528.00 vs. $10,866.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 109.6% higher at Syracuse than at University at Albany (about $34,272 more per year; $65,528.00 vs. $31,256.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University at Albany than at Syracuse University (96% vs. 76%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Syracuse University students is 224.9% larger than aid received by University at Albany students ($36,417 vs. $11,210).

University at Albany- SUNY vs. Syracuse Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, University at Albany- SUNY or Syracuse? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Syracuse and University at Albany- SUNY.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Syracuse University (1360) is 140 points higher than at University at Albany- SUNY (1220).
  • Incoming Syracuse students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 26 at University at Albany- SUNY).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University at Albany 1120/1320; Syracuse University 1270/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University at Albany 22/31; Syracuse University 29/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: University at Albany- SUNY - Test optional; Syracuse - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: University at Albany- SUNY Feb 1, 2027; Syracuse Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Syracuse students have a 0.39 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at University at Albany- SUNY (3.3).
  • University at Albany- SUNY has a higher acceptance rate (69.1%) than Syracuse (45.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.6% at University at Albany- SUNY vs. 18.8% at Syracuse.

University at Albany- SUNY vs. Syracuse Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for University at Albany- SUNY and Syracuse? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Syracuse University's six-year graduation rate (80%) is higher than University at Albany's (64%).
  • Graduates from Syracuse University earn a median of about $10,100 more per year than University at Albany- SUNY graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,900 vs. $55,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University at Albany graduates have a $5,935 lower median loan debt than Syracuse graduates ($21,065 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, University at Albany- SUNY graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Syracuse graduates ($217 vs. $279).
  • More Syracuse graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University at Albany- SUNY students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 70%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.